By: Mark Holtsberry
Crist Clarence Kimmel was born April 28, 1896 in Melrose, Ohio. The son of Clarence Burkey and Myrtle Kimmel. She was born October 17, 1882 in Paulding County. The daughter of Hugh Scott Kimmel and Mary E. Kimmel.
By 1900, Mytrle and Crist were living with her parents in Brown Township. On February 20, 1906, Myrtle married George William Straley. He was born December 29, 1872 in Ohio. This couple will go on to have children of their own. Rossie Raymond born 1902, Waldo George 1909. By 1910, Crist was living with his grandparents while in school. Myrtle and George along with Rossie and Waldo George were living in Brown Township. In 1911, a son Johnie E. was born. On August 14, 1917, Crist joined the National Guard out of Paulding. He served with Company B. 2nd Ohio National Guard. He was listed as tall, slender build, brown eyes, brown hair and working for Levi Brothers as a farm laborer.
On June 15, 1918, Crist boarded the ship, “Leviathan” at Hoboken, New Jersey and set sail for France. He was assigned to Company K. 146th Infantry as a private. Also boarding the ship, was a Haviland fella named Floyd Lininger. On August 1, 1918, Crist was promoted to private first class. He was then promoted to cook, September 1, 1918. On September 12, 1918, Crist’s stepfather, George William Straley, registered for the draft. Short and slender build, black hair, brown eyes and a farmer, but he was not chosen. Crist served in the Muese-Argonne and Ypre-Lys defensive sector was honorably discharged April 13, 1919. After returning home, Crist married a gal named Rosa Mae Barker, in Paulding, April 15, 1919. Rosa was born, September 19, 1898. The daughter of Lewis and Maude (Bell) Barker.
By 1920, Crist and Rosa were living on West Perry Street in Paulding, with his parents. On February 11, 1920, they became the proud parents of a son, Lewis Isaac Kimmel. Followed by Edwin Harold Kimmel, born August 2, 1921. Crist half-brother, Rossie passed away, June 17, 1927 in Jackson, Michigan due to an appendicitis burst. He was buried in Little Auglaize Cemetery. Crist other half-brother, Johnie, passed away October 13, 1929, and is also buried in Little Auglaize Cemetery. By 1930, Crist, Rosa and the boys, were living in Paulding.
Crist was working as a farm laborer, and the boys were in school. On April 15, 1931, Crist’s mother Myrtle, passed away in Paulding. She was buried in Little Auglaize with her boys.
On February 15, 1932, Crist was admitted to the Veterans Hospital in Dayton, Ohio for appendicitis. On November 1, 1932, Crist’s step-father, George passed away. He too, was buried in Little Auglaize Cemetery. By 1935, the Kimmel family had moved to Scott, Ohio. By 1940, the Kimmel family was living on Biaine Street in Scott. Crist was working for the W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) as a laborer.
On March 3, 1941, Crist passed away in Paulding. He was buried in Wiltsie Cemetery. On July 1, 1941, Lewis registered for the World War Two Draft, followed by Edwin on February 16, 1942. Both served with Lewis attaining the rank of Sergeant. Crist received his military tombstone June of 1941.
Sometime after 1957, Rosa remarried, she married Edward Heck, a widower from Payne. Rosa passed away April 21, 1973 and was buried with Crist at Wiltsie Cemetery.
